Driving While License Suspended

The crime of driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified in Florida can involve different consequences, depending on whether the alleged offender had knowledge of the suspension, revocation, cancellation, or disqualification.

When a person did NOT know his or her license was suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified, the criminal offense is civil offense and moving violation.

If the alleged offender was aware of the suspension, revocation, cancellation, or disqualification, such knowledge may result in misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the number of prior convictions.

Lawyer for Driving While License Suspended in Florida

If you were recently arrested in South Florida for allegedly driving while your license was suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified, it is in your best interest to immediately retain legal counsel.

Meltzer & Bell, P.A. aggressively defends clients accused of various moving violations in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and several surrounding areas of South Florida.

The traffic ticket attorneys in Fort Lauderdale at Meltzer & Bell, P.A. can fight to possibly get your criminal charges reduced or dismissed. Our attorneys can review your case and discuss all of your legal options when you call (561) 500-5000 to receive a free initial consultation.

Reasons for Florida Driver's License Suspensions

A person may have his or her driver's license suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified for any one of a number of reasons, but one of the most common reasons that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) suspends licenses is an individual accumulating too many points on his or her driving record.

Driver’s licenses will be suspended for 30 days when motorists accumulate 12 points within 12 months, three months for 18 points within 18 months, or one year for 24 points within 36 months. Some of the other reasons licenses may be suspended include, but are not limited to:

Driving While License Suspended Penalties in Florida

It is important to understand that while driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified without knowledge of the suspension is considered a moving violation, punishable by fine only in Florida, paying the fine is the same as pleading guilty.

The conviction can still count against the alleged offender for the purposes of an HTO designation later on.

People who have already paid such tickets may still be able to file a motion for a rehearing within 30 days, a motion to withdraw a plea within 60 days, or a motion to vacate a judgment within two years.

The State can prove an alleged offender’s had knowledge of a suspension, revocation, cancellation, or disqualification if:

The alleged offender was previously cited for driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified;

The alleged offender admitted to knowledge of the cancellation, suspension, or revocation; or

The alleged offender received notice of any judgment or court order canceling, suspending, or revoking the license.

If a person had knowledge of the suspension, revocation, cancellation, or disqualification, the criminal offense becomes punishable as follows:

First Offense — Second-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500;

Second Conviction — First-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $1,000; and

Third or Subsequent Conviction — Third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.

When an alleged offender was designated as an HTO, any driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified offense is a third-degree felony.

Florida Driving While License Suspended Resources

Driver License Suspensions and Revocations | Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) — On this section of the FLHSMV website, you can find information about driver's license suspensions and revocations in Florida. Learn more about suspensions for failure to comply with or appear at a traffic summons, failure to pay a fine, and failure to complete driver improvement school. The website also has information about such factors as inadequate vision and traffic tickets received in other states.

Find a Driving While License Suspended Attorney in Florida

Were you arrested for allegedly driving while your license was suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified in South Florida? Do not say anything to authorities until you have first contacted Meltzer & Bell, P.A..

Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.